Process for obtaining alpha light hydrocarbon



W. LANDES PROCESS FOR OBTAINING A LIGHT HYDROCARBON vApril 27 1926. l 1,582,764

Patented Alpi. 27, 1.926..

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LANDES, 0F LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA."

PROCESS FOB OBTAINING A LIGHT HYDROCABBON.

Application led May 19, 1924. Serial No. 714,845.

To all vwhom it may concern.' Y

Be it known that I, WILLIAM LAIvDES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Long Beach, in the county of Los Angeles Another object is to utilize, in the proc.

ess, casing head gas, or other suitable hydrocarbon gas, to mix and combine with the vapor of the petroleum or oil, so as to obtain the light hydrocarbon liquid in anefective and desirable manner.

The apparatus for carrying out thefproc- Y ess, is shown in the accompanying drawing,

'liquid or resi wherein-- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of the retort and vapor chamber, and

Fig. 2 is a crossv section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

The chamber 7 is of suitable size, according to the capacity desired, and has a vapor dome 8 at the top thereof near the rear end of the chamber, from which the vapor discharge pipe 9 extends for vcarrying-off the vapor from the chamber to the usual condenser (not shown). A. drain pipe 10 is connected to the bottom of the chamber for drawing o the residue, and said pipe has a valve 11 which is controlled manually or automatically orthe discharge of the resilevel. In carrying out the lnvention, the

residue in the chamber is of shallowdepth, as shown'in the drawing, thereby leaving a large vapor s ace above the liquid. The ue in the chamber occupies about one-eighth of the chamber,lleaving about seven-eighths to be occupied by the incomin vapors, so that such vapors have plenty o space fo'r 'expansion and condensation.

The front end of the chamber carries atomzing nozzles 13 for the discharge of petroleum or crude oil and steam under pressure into the'chamber, and said atomizing nozzles may be of any suitable kind. The oil and steam supply pipes 14 and 15 are connected to said nozzles and have controlling valves 16.

Below the nozzles 13 there are provided the second set of nozzles 17, which project thro-ugh the front end of the chamber, for the discharge of natural or casing head gas into the chamber. The gas and steam supply pipes 18v and 19 are connected to the nozzles 17, andhave control valves 20, whereby the gas can be discharged into the chamber with or without steam mixed therewith.

In carrying out the process, the steam, oil and gas are discharged from the nozzles or atomizers into the chamber, the iiuids being supplied to the nozzles at a pressureof 125 pounds, more or less depending on conditions. The oil and gas bemg discharged violently into'the chamber will be subjected to..

mechanical energy and agitation, while the steam in being discharged into the chamber will have the opportunity for expanding and creating a cooling elect. The delivery of the vapors into the chamber is controlled whereby the vapors are delivered into the. chamber at such a rate that the vapors can expand within the chamber, without the pressure accumulating, the pressure in the chamber being at'or near atmospheric ressure. The residue at the bottom o the chamber is maintained at a uniform depth, and such residue is kept heated to a temperature of about 300 degrees F., a ther mometer and gage 12 being provided for that` purpose. The temperature of the vapors in the chamber is lower than that of the residue, being about a temperature of exhaust steam, or about 220-225 degrees F.

The residue may be heated by any well known means, such as a lire below the chamber.

The mechanical agitation of theA oil resulting from the violent discharge ofthe oil intothe chamber under pressureA with the steam will result 'in the breaking up or cracking of the oil, thereby upsetting the molecular arrangement, and giving the strained molecules of the gas the opportunity to mix and combine with the oil molecules, to build up a physical combination which is stable the same as straight run gasoline. The oil and gas are not onl discharged simultaneously into the cham er to be agitated and mixed, but the heavier Huid is delivered above the lighter fluid, whereby the gravitation of the particles of oil downward through the gas will facilitate 'the comingling and contact of the oil and gas molecules While subjected to physical energy and agitation.

The presence of the steam causes a mild moist comparatively low temperature in the chamber, insteadof using a dry heat, and there is sulcient cooling effect to create a condition so that the casing head or other gas remains assembled with the heavier hy- -drocarbon vapor until they reach condensais possible with dry heat and higher temperlao atures. The cooling eect caused by full expansion of the vapors also results in the gas, which is fed into and fused with the heavier hydrocarbon, to remain assembled therewith until the discharged vapor is condensed inthe usual manner.

The unvaporized portion of the petroleum or oil drops to the bottom of the chamber, and collects as residue, and such residue is drawn olf from the chamber as required "to maintain the uniform depth of the residue in the chamber. Such residue is kept at a temperature somewhat above the vapor temperature, and any vapor rising from the residue will mix with the other vapors. The

temperature of the residue may vary, and in some cases may be as high as 400 degrees F., depending on the depth of the residue in the chamber, the, density of the residue, and other conditions.

By such process there can be obtained from the oil and gas a comparatively high proportion of light hydrocarbons, such as gasoline, it being apparent that the oil is not only broken up to separate the lighter hydrocarbon elements therefrom, but the gas also combines with and neutralizes or dilutes some of the heavier carbon matter, so that a greater percentage of the loil or petroleum is available for the light hydrocarbon products.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new iszl. The. process of obtaining a light hydrocarbon consisting in atomizing oil `with steam into a chamber, and simultaneously atomizing hydrocarbon gas with steam into thechamber independently of and below the oil so that the gas intercepts Aparticles of oil that drop from above.

2. The process of obtaining a light hydrocarbon consisting in separately atomizing both oil and hydrocarbon gas into a chamber With steam in a manner that the oil and gas will rst mix when discharged into said chamber, and maintaining a shallow depth of residue at the bottom of the chamber at a higher temperature than the vapors above said residue.

3. The process of obtaining a light hydrocarbon consisting in separately atomizing both oil andl hydrocarbon gas into a chamber with steam in a manner that the oil and gas Will first mix when discharged, into said chamber, with the gas discharging into the chamber below7 the oil for the gravitation of particles of oil through the gas, and maintaining a shallow depth of residue at the bottom of the chamber at a higher temperature than the vapors above said residue.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

WILLIAM LANDES. 

